Sullivan is back in the fray for voters

Jose Paul Corona

Dave Sullivan isn’t afraid to let people know where he stands on

issues.

The former president of community watchdog group Huntington Beach

Tomorrow and co-author of Measure C, which protects Surf City’s parks

and beaches from development, has been described as a fighter for the

common man.

“To me, he seems to be a fighter, or defender, of people in the

city,” said Bob Winchell, a friend and supporter.

Integrity and high ethics are words that Winchell uses to describe

Sullivan.

“[He has] no agenda for himself, just for people in the city and

preserving the quality of life in the city as much as possible,”

Winchell said.

Sullivan is back on the council after being termed out two years

ago in 2000. He was first elected in 1992 and went on to serve eight

years, during which time he drew both the admiration and ire of

voters and city staff.

He won a hard fought battle against the practice of salary spiking

by public employees, a scheme in which vacation pay, auto allowance

and other benefits are lumped into an employee’s final year as a way

to boost retirement pay at the taxpayer’s expense.

Fiscal issues and the salary and benefits of employees are still a

hot button for Sullivan, who plans to address those issues now that

he is back on the dais.

Sullivan is a proponent of the term limits that let him retire to

play softball for two years, but said he just couldn’t stay out of

the fray.

“I think it’s good that you have to get out after eight years in

the city. You get too stale,” he said. “I was ready for a rest. After

that rest, I’m ready to help out again.”

Outgoing Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff, who served on the council

with Sullivan in the past, said his drive will benefit the voters,

while his experience will benefit council newcomers.

“Dave has more experience than any of the new members, and I think

that will be very helpful,” Dettloff said. “Dave will come in fully

ready and start where he left off. He will have the ability to help

the newer members get caught up.”

As he gets back to work, Sullivan hopes to tackle issues for

seniors and children.

During his campaign, Sullivan spoke to many residents, and quality

of life kept coming up in conversations, he said.

The expansion of the Rodger’s Senior Center and the reopening of

the Shipley Nature Center were things that residents were concerned

with, Sullivan said.

“The senior center has outgrown its present size,” he said. “I

think the council needs to step up the process and make some

commitments to get a new senior center.”

Sullivan also wants to deal quickly with reopening the Shipley

Nature Center.

“That’s a real resource for the children. I want to get that open

as soon as possible,” he said.

While those issues are important to him, the city’s impending

budget problems are what got Sullivan’s attention.

“Basically I felt that the fiscal responsibility could have been

better, and I know that tough times are on the way -- that was

basically my motivation for running,” Sullivan said.